Summary

Alternative Names: Poonah Figure, Poona Figure

This clay figure of a Dhobi, or washerman, was made in Lucknow, India. It was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880, as part of a group of figures representing various castes, occupations and religious sects in India. This group was awarded a Third Order of Merit and was exhibited as part of the British India Court. It was gifted to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) by the India Commission of the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-81. The NGV Stock book identifies the figure as a 'Dhobey or Washerman'.

Physical Description

Figure of a man on a round base made from fired clay painted brown. A paper label is glued to the upper side of the base. The man is fired clay modeled over ferrous metal armature, which attaches to the base. The figure is painted with a dark-brown skin tone and is wearing a white shirt and pants with gold trim, a blue and white turban and red shoes. He is holding something in his left hand, which appears to have once been slung over his shoulder - although this has been lost.

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